Hey Commanders! It’s that time again — our Weekly Developer Update is here, and boy, do we have some cool stuff to share as we dive into December.

This year’s been a wild ride of discoveries and awesome progress. And now, we’re super excited to talk about our big leap: the upcoming launch of the Cosmicrafts multiplayer version for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.

Yep, you heard it right — we’re going multiplatform!

Get Ready for Multiplatform Madness!

• Play Anywhere, With Anyone: The best part? You can play with your pals no matter what gadget they’re using. Got a PC and your buddy’s on an Android? No problem! We’re all about bringing everyone together for some epic space battles.
• Fresh Look, Smooth Experience: We’ve jazzed up the user interface to make sure it looks cool and works smoothly on every platform. It’s all about getting you into the game without any fuss.
• No More Waiting Games: We’re also speeding things up. Loading times? We’re slashing them. Getting into the action is going to be quicker than ever.
• Something for the Strategy Buffs: And for those of you who love digging into the nitty-gritty, we’ve fine-tuned the game mechanics. Expect smoother gameplay, better balance, and some neat tweaks to make every battle count.

Why We’re Taking Cosmicrafts Beyond the Browser

The Shift from WebGL to Native Platforms

Ever wondered why we’re moving Cosmicrafts off the web browser and onto native platforms like Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android? Well, buckle up — we’re about to dive into some techy details that explain this big move.

A Quick Look at WebGL

WebGL, or Web Graphics Library, has been the backbone of browser-based gaming since its launch in March 2011, with big names like Apple, Google, Mozilla, and Opera contributing to its development.

While it’s supported by most modern web browsers, its performance can hinge on things like GPU support — not ideal for every player.

WebGL 2.0, based on OpenGL ES 3.0, rolled out in 2017 with implementations in Firefox, Chrome, and Opera. As of December 2023, that’s still the latest and greatest version.

But here’s the thing: while WebGL is awesome for AR/VR and Metaverse stuff, it’s not the best choice for heavy-duty gaming graphics.

So, Why Shift Cosmicrafts Off WebGL?

1. Mid-End Graphics, High-End Demands: Sure, Cosmicrafts might not have the ultra-high-end graphics of some AAA games, but it’s still pretty darn cool-looking.
2. The real issue? RTS games, like Cosmicrafts, demand a lot of power. It’s not about stunning visuals; it’s about handling tons of units and actions simultaneously in real-time. And that requires serious computational oomph.
3. The RTS Challenge: RTS games are unique beasts. Unlike games where you focus on one character, in RTS, you could be commanding scores of ships all at once. This multitasking madness is what sets RTS apart — and why they need more power under the hood than your average game.
4. Network Woes with WebGL: Remember 2021 and our venture with the ICP fully on-chain multiplayer on WebGL? Yeah, bug city. Turns out, WebGL isn’t the most reliable when network conditions are less than perfect, especially for real-time multiplayer games. We learned it the hard way, so we’re not taking that route again.

The Bottom Line

Moving Cosmicrafts to native platforms isn’t about chasing prettier graphics; it’s about delivering a smoother, faster, and more reliable gaming experience. We want you to focus on strategizing and conquering, not lagging and glitching. So, here’s to new beginnings and epic battles on Cosmicrafts — without the browser blues!

Streamlining the Login Experience

In our quest to make Cosmicrafts accessible and fun for all kinds of gamers — whether you’re a casual player, a hardcore strategist, or a competitive mastermind — we’ve listened to your feedback and are making some big changes to the login process.

Breaking Down the Barriers: Login Made Easy

• NFID Integration: Big news! After a year and a half of anticipation, we’re introducing the option to log in with your Google account or email via NFID. It’s a huge step toward making the game more accessible to everyone.

We’re still ironing out some kinks with the NFID team to enhance your experience, but we’re getting there.

Diverse Login Options

We’re all about choice here at Cosmicrafts. We’re keeping our roots in the ICP ecosystem and expanding our horizons to welcome every kind of gamer. Check out the upcoming options for 2024:

• Internet Identity: The gold standard of security and trust, developed by the DFINITY R&D Team. This one’s for you if you want that extra layer of safety.
• Plug Wallet: The community’s top pick — reliable, user-friendly, and versatile. Whether you’re using it as a browser extension or checking out its slick mobile version, Plug Wallet’s got you covered.
• Bitfinity Wallet: We’ve hit some snags here, but we believe in the Bitfinity team. They’re working hard on improvements and their L2 solutions, which we’re excited to integrate soon.
• Stoic Wallet: Simple, fast, and does the job. While it may not be in the spotlight, it’s a solid choice for many.
• .ME Wallet by Astro X: This one’s a hidden gem. Seriously, it could be the go-to multichain wallet for everyone. It’s where we keep our Yumi Marketplace NFT treasures, and we think you should give it a try too!

Convenience with a Click

Save Your Login: We heard you — logging in every time can be a drag. So, now Cosmicrafts will remember you! Just click once, and you’re in, without re-entering passkeys or re-authorizing each time.

Of course, there’s always a logout option in the menu if you need it.

Our goal is to make getting into Cosmicrafts as smooth as possible, whether you’re a Web3 veteran or just diving into gaming for fun. We’re working hard to combine security, convenience, and choice, so your focus stays on strategizing and conquering galaxies, not on login screens.

Getting Started with Cosmicrafts MP

Ready to jump into Cosmicrafts? We’ll guide you through getting started, no matter what device you’re using. It’s time to gear up for an interstellar adventure that’s just a few clicks away!

Download and Launch

• Grab the Game: First things first, download the game. It’s a neat little package, under 600MB — kind of like those classic CDs from the good old days. You can grab the ZIP folder right from the different sources we’ll be providing for you.
• Launcher Coming Soon: We know, downloading a new ZIP for each update can be a hassle. Hang tight, because we’re working on a launcher with update features. Plus, we might even gear up with the IC Hub for some cool integrations.

Installation Steps for Every Platform

• Mac Users: You’ve got it easy! Just double-click on the game icon, and you’re ready to roll.

• Windows Users: Look for the ‘Cosmicrafts.exe’ file. And no, we’re not sneaking in any viruses (we promise!). If you want to be extra sure, feel free to do an MD5 hash check. Double-click, and you’re set for space battles.

• Linux Users: Whether you’re a fan of user-friendly distros like Ubuntu and Mint, or you love diving deep with Fedora, OpenSuse, or even Arch — just find the ‘Cosmicrafts.x86_64’ file and double-click to start your cosmic journey.

• Android Users: Grab the APK file. Just make sure your phone is set to trust APKs from external sources. We’re working on getting Cosmicrafts onto the Google PlayStore and, fingers crossed, the AppStore for our iOS users soon.

And then what?

Once you’ve got the game installed, it’s time to create your commander profile, choose your faction,start building your fleet and hit that play button to search for an opponent!.

Dive into the lore, strategize your moves, and prepare for some intense space warfare!

Sneak Peek at What’s Coming

• Characters and Bot Game Modes are disabled for the moment, and we’re working into getting them back, good news is you can still enjoy to play with them at play.cosmicrafts.com
• New Features Alert: We’re not just going multiplatform; we’re also packing in some cool new features. Think awesome new units, more customization options, and maybe even a few surprises we’re keeping under wraps for now!
• Community Shout-Out: As always, your feedback is what fuels our engines. Keep those comments and ideas coming — they’re helping us make Cosmicrafts better every single day.

We’re super excited to have you join the Cosmicrafts community. Remember, this is just the beginning. We’ve got loads of updates, new features, and expansions on the horizon. So, strap in and get ready for an epic space adventure.

See you in the Metaverse! 🚀✨